Pools, on the other hand, created little, and hardly exerted the visiting defence.

“They clicked into gear at our expense, in terms of simple defensive issues,” said Wadsworth. “Simple things like not clearing, or getting the ball beyond the midfield when we were in danger.

“It’s disappointing as last week they took the plaudits in playing excellent at Yeovil. Today two down after 10 minutes and it’s tough.”

He continued: “Even in the second half we had more possession and set-plays than them, but we conceded really poor goals.

“But it’s not a disastrous start to the season, yes a disastrous day, but we will pick up and we start again on Monday.

“Every chance Wednesday got they took, they had seven or eight and put five away.

“It spoils a decent start to the season and I feel sorry for the fans who remember it. Alan Irvine said he can’t believe his side won like that on the balance of play.”

After Mellor raced away on the counter attack down the left side on eight minutes, his low cross into the area and turned into his own net by Paul Murray, after the midfielder chased back to cover.

Two minutes later and Mellor picked up a loose ball and passed for Giles Coke to fizz in a low finish from eight yards.

If it wasn’t game over by then, it was on 21 minutes. Darren Potter’s pass separated the Pools defence and Mellor latched onto it, picked his spot and drilled the ball across Scott Flinders for the third goal.

Flinders tripped Mellor in the penalty area and striker Marcus Tudgay slotted in from the spot on 72 minutes.

And, in injury time, substitute Clinton Morrison curled his shot over Flinders into the far side of the net to complete the rout.

Pools chances were few and far between. Adam Boyd had a first-half volley at goal from 20 yards, Murray shot low past the frame of the goal and keeper Nicky Weaver dived to keep out a goalbound Andy Monkhouse volley.

Visiting boss Irvine, the ex-Newcastle coach, said: “This is a really hard place to come and it’s a fantastic result. I came to watch Hartlepool beat Sheffield United in the cup and they were fantastic – it was a tough test for us.

“The players did what we asked of them and were totally professional throughout. I was delighted in the way they did their jobs.”